Playing the Waiver Wire: A Ray of hope

It's been quite a special season to this point for the Rays. Mired in baseball mediocrity for the last decade, Tampa Bay is finally among the contenders in the AL East -- a division loaded with elite talent.

What's been more interesting is that Tampa has experienced great success without a player they hoped would be the face of the franchise -- Rocco Baldelli.

The Woonsocket, R.I., native has been sidelined since spring training with a mitochondrial disorder that has kept him in a constant stage of fatigue. It's just another setback in a once promising career for Baldelli, a 2004 inductee into the Rhode Island Italian-American Hall of Fame.

There was a time not long ago when Rocco Baldelli was an elite outfield prospect. (Getty Images)

Baldelli appeared in 156 games his rookie season of 2003 and 136 in 2004, but has played in just 127 of 563 (23 percent) games the last four seasons due to injury. In 2005, it was a torn ACL and torn ulnar collateral ligament in his right elbow that kept him sidelined. In 2006 and 2007, hamstring injuries limited Baldelli's appearances. And just when he was about to get his career back on track in 2008, another ailment hit.

It seems like yesterday the Rays made Baldelli the sixth overall pick in the 2000 amateur draft. It didn't take him long to navigate his way through the minors. He was named Minor League Player of the Year in 2002 by Baseball America and would make his major league debut in 2003.

Baldelli totaled 1,115 at-bats, 329 hits, 27 homers, 152 RBI and 44 stolen bases in his first two major league seasons before his career started its downward spiral. Baldelli has since taken just 501 major league at-bats. He has only 138 hits, 21 homers, 69 RBI and 14 stolen bases in that span.

The path back to major league stardom has begun for the 26-year-old outfielder. After a short stint in extended spring training, Baldelli has been with Class A Vero Beach since June 16. The highlight of his tour came in his second game with Vero Beach, as he slugged a pair of homers. For a moment, we witnessed the old Rocco.

Baldelli has six RBI in his first five games with Vero Beach and many onlookers seem excited about his possible return to the majors. Everyone except Rays management.

Tampa Bay took a strong stance with Baldelli, who has not played in the majors since May 15, 2007. They declined to pick up his $6 million option for the 2009 season and Baldelli will be a free agent at the end of the season.

The Rays also have decided to take a cautious approach with the oft-injured outfielder. According to the Collective Bargaining Agreement, a position player has 20 days for his rehab assignment. Rays executive vice president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman told MLB.com recently that he isn't sure if 20 days will be enough time for Baldelli.

The career .282 hitter stroked five homers and drove in 12 runs in 35 games in '07 before his season came to an abrupt end. He has displayed great plate presence and a viable power swing in-between the DL stints.

Baldelli still has the talent to perform in the majors. Whether he will return to Fantasy viability in '08 depends on his health and a spot in the Rays lineup.

"Part of it will be performance oriented," Rays manager Joe Maddon told MLB.com about Baldelli's role upon his return. "That he's playing and he's playing well. We've got something good going on right now. When a guy like him is ready to come back, which we really want to happen, he has to be playing well, too."

Call to the Bench -- We feel this player might be worthy of adding to Fantasy rosters for the long haul

Elijah Dukes, OF, Washington
Owned: 23 percent of leagues
Analysis: It's about time to add the hot-headed Dukes in Fantasy leagues. He survived a heated confrontation with skipper Manny Acta in early June to remain in the starting lineup and his production hasn't suffered. Dukes is hitting .322 with three homers and 13 RBI in 23 June games. He also has 12 runs, four doubles, two triples, 13 walks and five stolen bases. We are finally seeing the potential we have heard about for years. The Nationals are watching him like a hawk and have done an admirable job keeping him out of trouble thus far. With everyday at-bats, Dukes is burgeoning Fantasy star.

You're Out! -- We feel this player might have already peaked and his value could be on the decline, so Fantasy owners might want to cut bait ASAP

Mark Hendrickson, SP, Florida
Owned: 31 percent of leagues
Analysis: Hendrickson makes his second appearance in Playing the Waiver Wire this season. The first time we warned owners that adding Hendrickson wasn't a good strategy. Now, we want to tell the remaining mixed league owners still holding onto the lefty to jump ship. The struggling left-hander has just one win in six starts and a has a 9.85 ERA in that span. In two of those starts, he didn't even last four innings. Hendrickson started the season with a 5-1 record and 3.56 ERA. He is now at 7-5 with a 5.73 ERA. We knew his early-season success wouldn't last forever.

GIDPs -- We feel this player might not warrant as much Fantasy consideration as he is receiving and should be avoided in most instances

Jeff Baker, INF, Colorado
Owned: 10 percent of leagues
Analysis: It's a story of too little, too late for Baker. The Colorado infielder had a great chance to make an impact while Troy Tulowitzki and Clint Barmes watched from the bench with injuries. However, Baker mostly observed Jon Herrera and Omar Quintanilla start up the middle for Colorado until taking matters into his own hands. Baker is hitting .358 with five homers and 12 RBI in 16 June games. He had a nine-game hitting streak in there and also a four-game homer streak. Too bad Tulowitzki and Barmes are both healthy now. As soon as interleague play ends, it's back to the bench for Baker. Rockies manager Clint Hurdle is appreciative of Baker's recent surge, but he still favors Barmes' glove at second.

Scouting -- We feel this player is on the verge of being a Fantasy reliable option, but still needs to be monitored over the next few weeks

Brian Buscher, 3B, Minnesota
Owned: 2 percent of leagues
Analysis: The Twins have a need for a starting third baseman after the Mike Lamb experiment failed and, well, Nick Punto just isn't an everyday player. Buscher has thrown his name into the mix after his recall from Triple-A Rochester. In his first eight games, Buscher is hitting .400 (12-for-30) with one homer, 12 RBI and seven runs. The Twins are content with starting the 27-year-old at third base for now. Buscher, a 2006 Rule-5 pick, doesn't have a lot of power. He could hit for a decent average, but that might only end up helping Rotisserie league owners.

Stopgap corner -- We feel this player might be worth using for the upcoming scoring period

Wandy Rodriguez, SP, Houston
Owned: 50 percent of leagues
Analysis: The left-hander is 1-3 in five starts since coming off the DL on May 28. It hasn't been all bad for Rodriguez, who has a 3.21 ERA in that span. Rodriguez is lining up to be a two-start pitcher Fantasy Week 14 (June 30-July 6). His first start is for Tuesday against the Dodgers and his second start is for July 6 against the Braves. Rodriguez will face Los Angeles at home where he is 1-2 with a 2.10 ERA in five starts this season. He will then face Atlanta on the road, where he is not always at his best, but the game is during the day. Rodriguez is 1-1 with a 0.66 ERA in two day starts in 2008.

Farm Boys -- This segment is for those long-term keeper owners looking for the next Fantasy superstar

Charlie Haeger, SP, Chicago White Sox
Owned: 0 percent of leagues
Analysis: The knuckleballer has his pitch fluttering in the minors as he is 4-3 with a 2.94 ERA in his last 10 starts. He has lasted eight innings in three of those starts and has made it at least five innings in each of the 10 outings. Haeger is holding Triple-A hitters to a .242 average and has allowed just five homers. Haeger has had a slow process through the minors (down there since 2001) and has logged just 29 2/3 major league innings -- mostly in relief -- since 2006. However, he could be just an injury away from being recalled to the majors. Haeger could be worth stashing in larger AL-only Fantasy formats.

Doctor's Report -- This segment highlights a player on the verge of coming off the DL and ready to make an immediate Fantasy impact.

Ryan Church, OF, N.Y. Mets
Owned: 50 percent of leagues
Analysis: The Mets were hoping Church, who is on the 15-day DL because of post-concussion syndrome, would be activated for a weekend series against the Yankees. It doesn't appear as though that will happen as Church is only expected to begin his rehab assignment with Class A Brooklyn on Thursday. He could take the weekend to play with Brooklyn and return to the Mets by Fantasy Week 14 (June 30-July 6). Church was enduring a breakout season with New York before sustaining his second concussion since spring training.

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